Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Durham report: FBI criticised by special counsel for Trump-Russia inquiry

Durham report: FBI criticised by special counsel for Trump-Russia inquiry

A long-awaited report has strongly criticised the FBI's handling of its investigation into alleged ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.

In a 306-page report, special counsel John Durham said the agency's inquiry lacked "analytical rigor".

He concluded the FBI had not possessed evidence of collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia before launching an inquiry.

The FBI said it had addressed the issues highlighted in the report.

In the report, Mr Durham - who was appointed by then-Attorney General William Barr in 2019 - accused the FBI of acting on "raw, unanalysed and uncorroborated intelligence".

Among the investigative mistakes it made were repeated instances of "confirmation bias", in which it ignored information that undercut the initial premise of the investigation.

The report noted significant differences in the way the FBI had handled the Trump investigation when compared with other potentially sensitive inquiries, such as those involving his 2016 electoral rival Hillary Clinton.

Mr Durham noted that Mrs Clinton and others had received "defensive briefings" from the FBI aimed at "those who may be the targets of nefarious activities by foreign powers". Mr Trump had not.

"The Department [of Justice] and the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law," the report concluded.

In a statement, the FBI said it had "already implemented dozens of corrective actions".

"Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented," the statement added.

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed by then Attorney General William Barr in 2019


The FBI investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, which was carried out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, led to dozens of criminal charges against Trump campaign staff and associates for crimes including computer hacking and financial crimes.

It did not, however, find that the Trump campaign and Russia had conspired together to influence the election.

Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Mr Trump said the Durham report showed that the "American public was scammed". He cited the report's conclusion that there had not been enough evidence to warrant a full investigation by the FBI. Mr Trump has long claimed that members of the "Deep State" are targeting him unfairly.

Last year, Mr Trump said he believed the Durham report would provide evidence of "really bad, evil, unlawful and unconstitutional" activities and "reveal corruption at a level never before seen in our country".

The Durham report falls short of the blockbuster revelations and prosecutions that some Trump allies hoped for from the inquiry.

The four-year investigation has resulted in three prosecutions. They include an FBI attorney who pleaded guilty to altering evidence while applying for permission to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign official.

Two other people were acquitted on charges of lying to the FBI.

The former president cited some court filings by the Durham team as part of a lawsuit he filed against Mrs Clinton and several other Democrats and government officials, alleging that they had plotted to undermine his 2016 presidential bid by spreading rumours about his campaign's ties to Russia.

A judge dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous in January and ordered Mr Trump to pay nearly a million dollars in penalties.

Mr Durham and his investigation are not likely to disappear from the national headlines in the immediate future.

Shortly after news that the report would be publicly released, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan announced that he would be calling the US former attorney to testify before Congress about his work.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
How Spain Transformed from High Unemployment to Eurozone Growth Leader
EU Promises Swift Response if New US Tariffs Are Introduced
The European Union Shifts Focus to AI Innovation Amid Global Competition (or at least this is what they claim)
Merz and Scholz Engage in Confrontation Over Migration and Economic Strategies in Pre-Election Debate
Tech Giants Boost Investment in AI Infrastructure Despite Competition
Europe Faces Growing Security Concerns and Trump's New Demands on Ukraine
Justin Bieber Sparks Concern as New Footage Raises Health Fears
European Right-Wing Leaders Celebrate Trump’s Impact on Global Politics
Germany Confronts Political Turmoil Before Sudden Election
Macron's AI Vision Encounters Obstacles in the Global Technology Race.
Reports of Pro-Russian Bots Attempting to Influence German Election Surface
'BACK TO PLASTIC!': Trump to End Bans on Plastic Straws
TikTok Sued Over Alleged Child Deaths Caused by 'Blackout Challenge'
U.S. Ally Claims Trump Has Distinct Credibility to Resolve Ukraine-Russia Dispute
At least ten fatalities confirmed in shooting at a Swedish school, authorities report.
Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education
Spain Endorses Initiative to Lower Workweek to 37.5 Hours
Trump Vows to Impose Tariffs on EU Products, Describes Bloc as a ‘Trade Atrocity’
Zelenskyy Proposes Nuclear Arsenal if NATO Membership Lingers
Serbia and Albania Set to Co-Host the 2027 UEFA Under-21 European Championship.
Zelenskyy Urges for 'Robust Security Assurances' from Russia to Conclude the War in Ukraine
Austrian Coalition Talks Encounter Setbacks Amid Far-Right Push for Power
Von der Leyen Indicates 'Unprecedented' Action to Enhance EU Defense Expenditure.
European Union Proposes Reforms to 1951 Refugee Convention
China's Humanoid Robots Poised to Transform Everyday Life and Spiritual Functions
Putin Resurrects Soviet-Era Intervision Song Contest with Fresh Allies
Ten Killed in Mass Shooting at Örebro Adult Education Center
China Retaliates with Tariffs and Investigations Following New U.S. Duties
Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD, bolsters her international profile by meeting with Viktor Orban.
EU Leaders Convene to Address Defense Strategy in Light of Increasing U.S. Tensions
EU Leaders Convene Key Summit on Defense in Response to Increasing Tensions
Trump Directs Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, Considers TikTok Purchase
Britain Considers U.S. Gas Imports in Light of Potential Trump Tariffs
French Prime Minister Bayrou Confronts Several No-Confidence Votes Regarding the 2025 Budget
Trump Pursues Ukraine's Rare Earth Minerals in Exchange for U.S. Military Assistance
Trump Wins Again as Canada Agrees to Strengthen Border Security
Trump Seeks Rare Minerals from Ukraine in Exchange for U.S. Support
EU leaders concur on increasing defense expenditure in response to escalating security threats.
Nearly 96% of New Cars Registered in Norway in January Were Electric
Bart De Wever Appointed Belgium's New Prime Minister
Apple Abandons AR Glasses Project Amid Struggles with Technology and Market Demand
U.S. Clinical Trial Investigates Medication to Prolong Dogs' Lifespan
Berlin Protests Against Immigration Crackdown
Apple Surpasses Revenue and Earnings Expectations, But iPhone Sales Disappoint
Bill Gates Reflects on Past Mistakes and Acknowledges Yuval Noah Harari's Insight
TikTok Shapes the Future of Mobile Gaming with Viral Trends
Swedish Prime Minister Admits Loss of Control Over Surge in Violence and Explosions
Patriotism Misrepresented: Merz’s Migration Bill Defeat Exposes Ideological War Fueling Europe’s Instability
Trump Administration Advocates Ukrainian Elections to Promote the Democratic Process Needed to Oppose the War Zelenskiy Supports and Profits From
The Swift Impact: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's Relationship Boosts Football's Global Appeal
×